Cynder has started to loose weight, because it is still hit and miss of how much food I can get down into her. My work schedule SUCKS and it has made feeding her difficult. Typically, no matter when I feed her, her first meal goes down without any issue and stays down. But that second meal...it is really hit and miss. Last night she was SUPER nauseous and couldn't keep anything down that second meal. She should technically be eating 1 2/3 to 2 cans of food a day, and I'm lucky if I can get 1 1/2 cans in her.

I weighed her tonight hillbilly style by weighing myself and then weighing myself + her and calculating the difference and the scale still says she's about 28 pounds, which isn't *bad*...but she's lean at 30 pounds and I can tell by feeling her she is starting to get really boney. She can't continue to drop weight.

So, what would be some things I could add to her diet to help boost her calorie intake? Should I make Satin balls? Nutrical? I just need to add something to help keep her weight stabilized. I've thought about just adding a can of A/D or something similar to her first meal, but figured that would probably give her the runs after too long...? But I suppose the runs would be better than dropping weight...

Yes to all, also oils, I like coconut oil (I got a massive jar of decent quality stuff at Costco for $15), but even olive oil will work. They typically have something like 120-180 calories/tablespoon so a little goes a long way.

Also, in a pinch, Nutrical-type paste. That stuff's got like 400 calories in a little squirt of it, it's ridiculous.

Poor girly. She's lucky she has you to take care of her.

ETA: You probably know this, but add oils in slowly to avoid diarrhea. Actually I'm sure you know that. But I just had to say it, in case.

I was actually thinking about trying coconut oil or something of the sort. It'd be easy to add a tablespoon per feeding.

Since she's only 30 pounds, I *THINK* she needs about 750kcal per day...(but when she was eating dry food, she would have only been getting ~500 per day, according to my calculations...?). Everything I've manged to scrounge up online said for a 30 pound dog she'll need anywhere from 750-950kcal/day based on energy level.

Each can is 469kcal. And eating a can and a half is 703. So if I could keep her at the can and a half food amount (a can in the morning, then a 1/2 can at night her stomach is feeling more bleh) and then supplement about 100kcal with something else...that would be awesome.

Might pick up some kind of nutrical stuff just in case she has a bad day and regurges a feeding (or two).

I saw that! And am severely tempted. However, I'm really leery of trying a new canned food...I tried two other brands other than the ProPlan flavor I'm currently feeding her and she had HORRIBLE nausea/regurgitation on them. Switched back to ProPlan Turkey and Potato and no issues.
Besides this weird "no tolerance for second feeding" thing. Which happened again tonight. She regurgitated AS I was holding her up. Luckily she gave a bit of warning and I heard it coming and was able to avoid getting covered in saliva and food. First feeding? completely fine. Second? Almost immediate regurge.

So I think tomorrow I am going to try just feeding her one big meal and see how she does. I have the weekend off and will be around to monitor her encase it doesn't go over well...if that fails, I may see if adding in something like metacloprimide will help and try that on Sunday.

Regardless, I hope I can figure something out...this is doing a number on my nerves.

Well, I tried Beanie's suggestion of feeding her daily portion all at once in the morning...so far so good! She ate the entire can and a half and didn't act nauseous at all. Everyone with dogs with megaE says to feed multiple meals a day, but if just one big meal works for Cynder, then that is what we'll do! Would definitely make my life easier, that's for sure, because my schedule SUCKS.

I also finally got smart and covered her and I with a towel when I fed her, so she had a "bib". Made cleanup SO much easier. Don't know why I didn't do that earlier.

So, new feeding routine will be: 1 1/2 cans + high calorie supplement (oil or otherwise) once daily. I'm also going to pick up some Nutrical as well, encase we have a bad day and can't keep food down.

Hopefully that will work.

If she's able to keep this 1 1/2 cans down all at once consistently I may try bumping it up to 1 2/3 can (as that is what the feeding guidelines for her weight are), but I don't want to push my luck.